Agricultural technology adoption and deforestation: Evidence from a randomized control trial

• 成果类型: Article
• 署名作者: Bloem, Jeffrey R.; Lundberg, Clark
• 署名单位: CGIAR; International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI); California State University System; San Diego State University
• 刊物名称: JOURNAL OF DEVELOPMENT ECONOMICS
• ISSN/ISSBN: 0304-3878
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jdeveco.2025.103600
• 发表日期: 2026
• 关键词: deforestation; Agricultural technology adoption; Earth observation data; nigeria

摘要

We study the effect of the adoption of improved agricultural inputs on deforestation using a randomized control trial in Nigeria which introduced a more efficient and environmentally-friendly nitrogen fertilizer. We combine survey data from the intervention with earth observation data to develop a generalizable method for evaluating the effects of cluster-level interventions on landscape-level outcomes. We find evidence of an intensification response to treatment exposure that reflects significant heterogeneity across land cover. On land with relatively sparse pre-intervention tree cover, treatment exposure increased deforestation while in denser forest areas the intervention reduced deforestation. We find corresponding effects showing treatment exposure increases agricultural productivity. Our results reflect an intensification response to improved agricultural technology that redirects agricultural activity away from forests and towards existing cropland.